billow
/ˈbɪləʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɪləʊ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbi-(ˌ)lō/ (ame, mw) · /ˈbɪl.əʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbɪl.oʊ/ (ame, ipa)
billow — verb
- billowpresent simple I / you / we / they
- billowshe / she / it
- billowedpast simple
- billowing-ing form
1. to swell outward and move with a rolling, wave-like motion — used especially of
to swell outward and move with a rolling, wave-like motion — used especially of smoke, steam, clouds, dust, or fabric caught by wind
Smoke billowed from the kitchen window after Emeka forgot the pan on the stove.
smoke + billow from — rising in clouds from a source
A sharp wind filled the tent and made the canvas sides billow loudly.
fabric + billow — cloth swelling outward with wind
The old curtains billowed into the room as Aunt Mei pushed open the window.
Dust billowed up around the truck as it sped along the dry dirt track.
Steam billowed from the hot spring, hiding the far side of the pool.
文法句型
smoke/steam/dust + billow + from/out of/into
fabric + billow + in the wind
用法筆記
Subject is usually smoke, steam, cloud, dust, or fabric. The verb is almost always intransitive. Often followed by a preposition showing direction: from, out of, across, into, or up.
常見錯誤
billow — noun
- billowsingular
- billowsplural
1. a large, swelling mass of smoke, dust, steam, or flame that rolls and spreads th
a large, swelling mass of smoke, dust, steam, or flame that rolls and spreads through the air
A thick billow of black smoke poured from the factory chimney.
a billow of + substance — describing a rolling mass
The Watanabe family watched billows of steam rise from the waterfall into the cold air.
billows of (plural) — large volumes spreading
An enormous billow of dust swept across the field during the storm.
Flames sent up billows of grey smoke that could be seen for miles.
A billow of flour dust hit Santiago in the face as he opened the oven.
- wisp
a thin, faint strand of smoke or cloud rather than a large swelling mass
文法句型
a billow of + substance
billows of + substance
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'of' to name the substance (billow of smoke, billow of dust). Usually plural when describing a continuous outpouring. Distinguish from noun/2: this sense refers to airborne substances, not sea waves.
常見錯誤
2. a towering ocean wave; a great swell of the sea — used especially in literary or
a towering ocean wave; a great swell of the sea — used especially in literary or poetic writing
The old fisherman squinted at the dark billows rolling in from the east.
plural 'billows' — literary register for ocean waves
Billows crashed against the sea wall, sending spray high over the road.
The wooden boat rose and fell with each billow that passed beneath it.
A sudden billow lifted the raft and threw Yuki into the cold water.
Thunder rumbled in the distance as billows churned the surface of the bay.
用法筆記
This sense is literary and somewhat old-fashioned. In everyday English, 'wave' or 'swell' is far more common. Usually found in the plural form (the billows) and often paired with descriptive adjectives such as dark, angry, or great.